What's New

BC Cancer Agency unlocks clues to Lymphoma
January 18, 2010 - Vancouver, B.C. - BC Cancer Agency researchers have identified a never before seen mutation (or DNA spelling mistake), in the two most common types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. No other types of lymphoma or other cancers have been found to contain this particular mutation.
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BC Cancer Agency announces huge breast cancer breakthrough
October 7, 2009 - Vancouver, B.C.–For the first time in history, BC Cancer Agency scientists in British Columbia, Canada have decoded all of the three billion letters in the DNA sequence of a metastatic lobular breast cancer tumour, a type of breast cancer which accounts for about 10 per cent of all breast cancers, and have found all of the mutations, or “spelling” mistakes that caused the cancer to spread.
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Tours of the BC Cancer Agency, Centre for the Southern Interior   
October 2009 - Recent renovations to the Radiation department at the Cancer Centre for the Southern Interior are now complete and the centre is now open for tours after hours between 5.30 and 7.30pm. For information please contact director of development Cynthia Waldek-Peters at 250.712.3910, toll free 1.866.230.9988 or by email at cwaldekpeters@bccancer.bc.ca

 Found: One in three billion
The spelling mistake in the genetic code that causes a type of Ovarian Cancer
June 10, 2009 - Vancouver, B.C. – Eureka! Vancouver scientists from the Ovarian Cancer Research (OvCaRe) Program at BC Cancer Agency and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have discovered that there appears to be a single spelling mistake in the genetic code of granulosa cell tumours, a rare and often untreatable form of ovarian cancer. This means that out of the three billion nucleotide pairs that make up the genetic code of the tumour, one – the same one in every tumour sample – is incorrect. The discovery, published online June 10th in the New England Journal of Medicine, marks the beginning of a new era of cancer genomics, where the complete genetic sequence of cancers can be unravelled and the mutations that cause them exposed. For women with granulosa cell tumours it represents the first specific diagnostic tool and clear path to develop much needed treatments for this cancer.
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See video of the announcement.

BC Cancer Agency, Centre for the Southern Interior Strategic plan The plan was developed by the Leadership Team and department specific representatives during the summer of 2006. The goal was to develop a plan that interprets the vision and direction of the BC Cancer Agency, while honouring and celebrating the unique values, culture and needs of the Southern Interior. Also a goal was to develop a plan that would be readily received by a wide audience while being practical, feasible and exciting:

This plan outlines four broad goals:

• To make the BC Cancer Agency, Centre for the Southern Interior the best place to work
• To develop academic curiosity and use the strengths of our Centre to improve quality of care
• To enhance our capability to provide excellent care across our region
• To foster an environment that supports innovation in our strategic areas of priority

FOR MORE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE click here.